Design Your Dream Space

Use our free, easy-to-use design tool to complete your design in minutes.

GET STARTED

The back-to-school season is a prime time for getting organized, especially in the mudroom. This may be a term Midwesterners use, but the entryway, vestibule, drop-spot - whatever you want to call it - is the most popular place for clutter to collect as kids return to school and summer turns into fall. It's the first area you see upon entering the house and the last place you stop before leaving. No matter how large or small your space is or whether it's located in the front of the house, the garage, beside the kitchen or near the backdoor, it's probably time to prepare your entryway for fall by following these simple steps.

1. Clean

Get rid of the off-season stuff and items that create clutter. This includes the piece of mail sitting on the console that's never made it to the recycling, and the shoes that mysteriously appeared (and never disappeared) after your 5-year-old's birthday party. Items that collect until there is a thick coat of dust covering them is a good indication that they are not being used and should be removed. The concept is almost allergy inducing, but sometimes we just need a little reminder that it's time to dump the junk.

2. Organize

There isn't a right or wrong system to abide by since entryway organization is a reflection of the family who lives in the home. People have different habits. For example, some people drop their mail by the door while others open it at the kitchen counter. Either way, coat hooks, cubbies, and baskets are the key. Use these to organize your mail or keys and to keep coats and bags off the floor. Organize the pile of shoes with racks, and add a docking station to keep all your electronics in one place. If something has a specific place to be, it won't end up sitting on the sofa, scattered on the kitchen counter, or strewn across the hallway floor.

3. Decorate

Now for the fun part! Find an awesome umbrella stand at a thrift shop, hang a large decorative mirror, prop a cute pillow on your boot bench, or display a print from your favorite photographer or a piece your child created. Capture the spirit of the season with some do-it-yourself (DIY) decorations. For example, find a do-it-yourself guide for wax dipped leaves or fill a decorative bowl with small pumpkins and gourds. Looking for a splash of color? Add a fresh coat of fall-inspired paint color to your deprived walls.

Fall is all about color and texture -  contrast, warm prints, a balance between bright colors and staple neutrals - and of course, home organization, too. With a little inspiration (and maybe some much needed encouragement) you can have your entryway back-to-school-ready in no time. Teach your children the value of organization and inspire them with vibrant colors as they get back into their fall routines all while preserving your personal sanity!

Design Your Dream Space

Use our free, easy-to-use design tool to complete your design in minutes.

GET STARTED